In vitro Propagation of Saprophytic Moss Splachnum sphaericum Hedw.

Abstract

In vitro propagation of Splachnum sphaericum Hedw. has been carried out to study its growth pattern and morphogenetic attributes. Plants of this species were freshly collected from Se La Pass, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. Axenic culture of the species has been established using spores as explants. Half Knop's macronutrients, Half Knop's + Vitamins, Hoagland and Murashige and Skoog media were used for culture. Half Knop's macronutrients medium was found as most suitable for the growth of plants under controlled laboratory condition and after 50 days a well grown dense population of gametophores has been achieved. Observations made on morphogenesis of protonema and gametophyte development in different media are provided.